The 21 year old’s initial loan from Bournemouth runs out in January, but the Valiants have spoken to the Premier League side about the chances of keeping him until the end of the season.

Aspin says he is encouraged because the attacking midfielder is enjoying his time at Vale Park.

He said: “I am hopeful we are making progress. The main thing will be that Ben himself wants to stay at the club and at the moment he has indicated that he likes it here and he wants to stay for longer. “So, that gives us a head start and hopefully we can get something sorted that would keep him here for longer.

“He is important. I think there is no getting away from the fact. You could say we had our best performance, against Oxford, when he wasn’t playing, but since I have been here he has been an important player for us.

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“I think the lad has ability. I would like to think that as long as we can keep him here then he can keep getting better.”

Whitfield is expected to start tomorrow night as the Valiants take on Yeovil Town at Huish Park in their FA Cup second-round replay.

Port Vale boss Neil Aspin watches the 2-0 win over Cambridge

The midfielder is still gaining match fitness after suffering an ankle injury in the win at Exeter in October. He made his comeback by playing for half an hour in the Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Shrewsbury a week ago and then played for just over an hour in Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Cambridge.

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Aspin added: “Ben he has done well for us and he is a player we want playing. I have had to ease him back a little bit but now he has had minutes in both games I am sure he will be looking to last the 90 minutes.”

Vale could field the same side that beat Cambridge, although Cristian Montano was taken off as a precaution on Saturday after picking up a knock on his thigh.